PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Kain (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rafael Rua has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Rua
vs
Kain

187 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rafael Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Kain !
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kain defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rua.
Rua ducks under a wild hook from Kain .
Kain shoots in for a double leg but Rua sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rua with a poor takedown
and Kain counters with an outside leg kick.
Rafael Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Kain misses with a takedown attempt - Rua sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Nice sprawl there from Kain as Rua shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rafael Rua. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kain looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rua is fending him off so far but Kain persists. Nope, Rua circles away and we're back to standing.

Kain has closed the distance and engaged Rua in a clinch.

Kain pulls guard.

Rua drops back looking for a leg! Kain is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kain manages to kick Rua off! Rua jumps back into Kain 's guard.
Kain tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kain not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kain wants to sweep here but Rua controlling him for the moment.

Kain had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rua defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kain looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rua stopping the sweep attempt from Kain .

Rua drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rua jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rua being controlled here momentarily.

Rua drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kain looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kain looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kain !
Kain wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rua keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Kain decides to stand back up.
Rua uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kain .
Kain throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kain moves into range and clinches up with Rua.
Rua drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kain pulls his leg out and moves away.
Kain tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kain shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rua manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kain thows a big elbow that misses.

Rua looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rua has his foot on Kain 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kain works his way back into a safe position though.
Kain seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kain accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Rua is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kain defends well.
Kain trying to control the position from guard on top but Rua is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kain stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rua swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Rua stuffs the takedown attempt from Kain . Kain gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua keeps the fight on the outside.

Kain decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Rua looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rua is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kain pulls his head out easily.

Rua looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Rua is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kain pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Kain dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rua stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rua wants it to stay on the feet.
Kain shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rua sprawls well. Rua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kain gets slowly back to his feet.
Rua shoots in but Kain avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kain dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rua. That did some damage!

Kain takes the fight into the clinch.
Rua looking for a takedown.

Kain breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Kain shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Rua is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kain pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rua is trying to get back to full guard.

Rua looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rua is not content to let Kain control the position.

Kain moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Rua.

Kain decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rua to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Kain shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rua napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rua is looking for a sweep.
A lull in the action here.
Rua is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is working hard here to advance position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kain shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rua sprawls well. Rua wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kain gets slowly back to his feet.
Rafael Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Kain .
Kain doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rua decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kain 's guard.

Rua is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Rua drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rua jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rua looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kain is on top in guard.

Rua working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kain doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kain manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua looking for subs off his back but Kain has passed one foot through into half guard.
Rua wants to improve his position but Kain is controlling well.

Kain postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Rua to stand up.
Rua stuffs the takedown attempt from Kain . Kain gets slowly back to his feet.
Rafael Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Rua gets a takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but John Kain will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rua shoots in for a takedown but Kain shows good takedown defense.
Rua leaves Kain with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kain misses with a takedown

and Rua counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kain !

Rua wants to finish this one by submission but Kain is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rua.

Rua is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Kain has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Kain defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Rua.

Rua jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Kain is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Kain and Rua has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rua working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Kain is trying to improve his position.

Rua tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kain sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Rua is working for a submission of some sort.

Rua seems to be working for a kimura but Kain defends the submission attempt.

Rua is looking for a kimura here.
Kain looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kain moves in looking to clinch but Rua pushes him off.
Kain keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kain shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Rua counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rafael Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Kain .
Kain seems keen to control Rua's posture.
Rua passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rua tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kain struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rua thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rua working away.

Rua tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rua has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Rua is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kain has escaped the position, nice work there.

Rua is trying to get an arm triangle but Kain is defending well.
Rafael Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Kain is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
An elbow from Rua crashes against the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Rua showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kain has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Kain !